DIE DEUTSCHE WOCHENSCHAU NR 748 [Main Title]

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I. Young Volkssturm recruits swear oath of allegiance and receive weapons from munitions workers. Army Knights Cross holder addresses (live) indoor parade of new recruits (at Berlin-Spandau Barracks), stressing interdependence of the home front (faces of elderly munitions workers) and the fighting front (faces of young recruits). Recruits in their Volkssturm uniforms swear (live) oath of allegiance involving unconditional obedience to the commander in chief Adolf Hitler, then receive hand weapons from the workers.

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II. Germans withstand Russian offensive against Courland. Animated map of Eastern Front from Reval to Cracow. Russian attack has reportedly been bloody loss for Bolsheviks, with five hundred tanks destroyed. Germans fire Nebelwerfer across bleak plain, grenadiers follow StuG III into counterattack and two StuG IIIs with side mantle armour open fire. T-34 explodes after being hit by Panzerfaust fired at close range (training film).

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III. German motor torpedo boats in action in Baltic. Late design S-boats (one marked VH), with armoured bridge, speed across sea, reportedly in support of German defence of Courland. On-board views show crew posing and opening of torpedo tube before firing of torpedo.

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IV. Exchange of German and US POWs at French Atlantic port. Animated map of Atlantic Coast indicates Walcheren, Dunkirk, Lorient and St Nazaire. German and American prisoners stand waiting for exchange, as scene is recorded by German naval photographer with Leica and two US Army Signal Corps cameramen, one with a triple turret Eyemo and the other with a camera (Speed Graphic?) and flash. Exchanged Germans arrive by boat at their Atlantic base. Vizeadmiral and General, both wearing German Cross in Gold, stand in front of map showing South Brittany coast including St Nazaire. General commanding that fortress and Naval Commander sit before microphone on New Year's Eve sending greetings to the Home Front. German nurses at St Nazaire prepare Christmas presents marked with name of German base. On the perimeter of the base grenadiers are glad to receive mail. Commentary asserts that German retention of Atlantic bases obliged Allies to build artificial harbours subsequently destroyed by storms (US film of damage in July 1944).

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V. German offensive in the Ardennes. Animated map from Amsterdam to Belfort. Germans have reportedly caused enemy heavy losses in area of Southern Belgium and Luxembourg. StuG IIIs are seen stationary and moving through street of German language (Gasthaus zum Reh??) village. Generalfeldmarschall Model stands in street chatting to passing grenadiers, with captured US jeep passing behind. Pzkpfw V passes and soldiers with Panzerfausts move along road. In a retaken town scenes of US defeat include shot-up anti-tank gun and MG position with dead gunner beside and wrecked Sherman and trucks in street with French language signs (Hotel Belle); Pzkpfw Vs and US prisoners pass through town. In a wooded area German reinforcements in Sdkfz 251s make their way along muddy snow-covered track; others advance on foot through woods in the Ardennes and across snow-covered fields. Destroyed Waco Hadrian glider, meant to bring supplies to encircled enemy, lies abandoned in snow. Overhead British and American bombers pass, attacking distant targets in snow-covered country. 8.8cm and 3.7cm Flak opens fire and plane is shot down; enemy is also intercepted by German fighters, leaving long vapour trails and watched by infantry. Pzkpfw Vs enter town after reportedly wiping out US armour at a crossroads.

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VI. German fighters attack Allied air bases in Belgium and Holland and US fighters and bombers. Messerschmitt Bf 109s and Focke-Wulf Fw 190s take off at first light on 1st January. Camera-gun film records attack on fuel depot which explodes and air-to-air sequences of shooting down Lightning fighter and several Flying Fortresses.

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